Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

RE: Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

Silvia Maldonado — Tue, 02 May 2023 20:52:45 GMT

A bit late reply but I did vote, as I do every time I have the chance to vote

RE: Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

Neil Wheadon — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 09:25:14 GMT

[quote userid="4037" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30609/who-will-you-vote-for-in-the-rcvs-elections/241443#241443"]Those working in practice ought to make up the majority of the council as I believe that they are representative of the majority of vets working in our profession.[/quote]

Isn't this the best way to 'game the system'

I saw that a university professor was standing but they are already represented?

If over 4 years everyone voted for members in practice, council would be loaded with practicing vets.

I see from the announcement that there is the usual hand wringing about a low turn out and 'we need to improve'. I would conclude that a low turnout is a result of my vote will make no difference, as 'under my care' has shown. To me this is the only way to force a change from the electorate

Neil

RE: Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

Sarah McGurk — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 03:55:26 GMT

I see one of David’s preferred candidates, Tim Hutchinson’s was voted in, as were both of mine. A good result, I think. Those working in practice ought to make up the majority of the council as I believe that they are representative of the majority of vets working in our profession. I don’t know if any are reading, but I wish them all well.

RE: Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

Sarah McGurk — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:22:29 GMT

It depends whether you agree with modern thinking on racism, etc. Some people assert that there is an oppressor group and an oppressed group and that only the oppressed group can experience racism against them. The theory says that black people cannot be racist against white people, for example.

So if you extend that theory, I am not being sexist as men cannot experience sexism.

Personally, I think the theory is bollocks and that black people can be racist and women can be sexist. I used to be sexist myself, preferring the company of men and valuing traits considered to be masculine more than those considered feminine. I have come to recognise now that women have different strengths from men and that femininity has little to do with being a woman.

I’m not sure whether a woman selecting women as she believes they might represent her better, and because she suspects that women are probably currently underrepresented (willing to be corrected) is necessarily sexist. Believing women are likely underrepresented does not mean I believe women are better than men. The latter would definitively be sexism.

Likely many people will select men because they are unconsciously sexist. They would not state it as I have done however, either because it is so ingrained that they are not even aware of it, or otherwise because it is generally considered unacceptable to be sexist when you are supporting the group that is already advantaged.

So you are free to consider me sexist if you wish. I will go on indulging my habit of voting for the women who put themselves forward for the RCVS council. I also vote for people I know now and then. This time there were none.

RE: Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:04:20 GMT

[quote userid="4037" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30609/who-will-you-vote-for-in-the-rcvs-elections/241290#241290"]In a profession where there are now a lot of women, there are only two women out of ten candidates. Both are in practice and sound sensible and practical, so I have voted for them.[/quote]

OOH - is that sexist voting???

RE: Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

Eamon McAllister — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 08:53:18 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30609/who-will-you-vote-for-in-the-rcvs-elections/241155#241155"]Although in the grand scheme of things it will probably make as much difference as the square root of FA, I shall vote, as I always do.[/quote]

I voted every year for about 40 years and then stopped when I realised that not one of those votes had made the slightest difference to any RCVS policy and had simply provided the College with a fig leaf of democracy.

RE: Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

David Mills — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 23:00:58 GMT

Yes I agree Neil, with diminishing or stable numbers of voters, one vote actually counts more.

My view is that these people aren’t going to change RCVS. But for the first time in many years I know both personally and their views on the profession align to mine. Over and above what people may think about Council, in 20s I registered them as my vote. That cannot be a negative thing.

RE: Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

Sarah McGurk — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 18:01:40 GMT

Thanks for the reminder. In a profession where there are now a lot of women, there are only two women out of ten candidates. Both are in practice and sound sensible and practical, so I have voted for them.

RE: Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

Neil Wheadon — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 15:23:25 GMT

I disagree. With a fundamentally low turnout, your average practitioner can make a real difference, if we all voted on bloc for the candidates that David suggests. The problem with the personal statements is they all press the same buttons, saying the usual unachievable things that follow the trends, that’s what puts me off voting. Yes we all know the profession has a huge dropout problem, what we need are solutions and an RCVS council full of vets willing to vote with the future in mind rather than the usual crop, so thankyou David, I’ll vote for these two

RE: RCVS elections

Utlendigur — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:31:01 GMT

I've voted pretty much every year since qualifying, but it achieves nothing. Each year vets vote for people who claim they will champion practising vets, but the RCVS just keeps on being as JG Wray used to say "remote, covetous, vexatious and suspicious", I contacted the CES last year to ask how I could register a spoiled ballot - a well recognised method of protest - you can't. There is no functioning way to influence the RCVS or hold it accountable so there is not point in wasting time on it.

RE: RCVS elections

Dinu Catilina — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:34:57 GMT

[quote userid="2131" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30609/rcvs-elections/241180#241180"]I can't see your logic. Abstentions are not recorded. Do you think the RCVS Establishment will fall about saying "Dear me, look how low the turnout was, we must change our policies and methods"?[/quote]

There is no logic and I am not trying to send a message. It's apathy and I don't want to waste more minutes from my life.

RE: RCVS elections

Eamon McAllister — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:18:42 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30609/rcvs-elections/241184#241184"]

Evelyn Barbour-Hill said:
Do you think the RCVS Establishment will fall about saying "Dear me, look how low the turnout was, we must change our policies and methods"?

Good point. I guess only if absolutely nobody voted, but that's not likely.

[/quote]

I have to agree. For as long as I can remember 75% - 85 % of the electorate haven’t voted / abstained and that result never seems to have much bothered the RCVS. Is the outcome an annual vote of no confidence and should the elections be declared void?

RE: RCVS elections

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 08:49:32 GMT

[quote userid="2131" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30609/rcvs-elections/241180#241180"]Do you think the RCVS Establishment will fall about saying "Dear me, look how low the turnout was, we must change our policies and methods"?[/quote]

Good point. I guess only if absolutely nobody voted, but that's not likely.

RE: RCVS elections

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 23:48:31 GMT

[quote userid="9239" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30609/rcvs-elections/241152#241152"]

Eamon McAllister said:
I will express my lack of confidence in the RCVS by abstaining

Yep. #metoo

[/quote]

I can't see your logic. Abstentions are not recorded. Do you think the RCVS Establishment will fall about saying "Dear me, look how low the turnout was, we must change our policies and methods"?

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30609/rcvs-elections/241155#241155"]Although in the grand scheme of things it will probably make as much difference as the square root of FA, I shall vote, as I always do. Not had a chance to look at the candidates' profiles yet though.[/quote]

After the obvious rule-outs from the list, judged by manifesto and the "question-answering", I found three or four I didn't dislike. But in the end I wasn't quite sure of two of them. Of the remaining two, one was likely to get a lot of votes anyway, so I left that one out in order not to vote against my one real favourite (who was neither Howard nor Hutchinson.)

RE: RCVS elections

Clive Ansell — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 14:12:26 GMT

Although in the grand scheme of things it will probably make as much difference as the square root of FA, I shall vote, as I always do. Not had a chance to look at the candidates' profiles yet though.

RE: RCVS elections

Dinu Catilina — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 09:52:22 GMT

[quote userid="8182" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30609/rcvs-elections/241142#241142"]I will express my lack of confidence in the RCVS by abstaining[/quote]

Yep. #metoo

RE: RCVS elections

Eamon McAllister — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 10:32:38 GMT

I will express my lack of confidence in the RCVS by abstaining.